Flying blue, everything you need to know to accumulate XP and level up
The marriage between Air France and KLM grew out of the failed marriage between the Dutch carrier and Alitalia. With the [...]
KLM
Air France
SkyTeam
CDG
The marriage between Air France and KLM grew out of the failed marriage between the Dutch carrier and Alitalia. In hindsight, who knows what the situation would be like today if that marriage had taken place.
In this article:
Today Flying Blue is the loyalty program of the two Franco-Dutch airlines in addition to Kenya Airways, Aircalin, Tarom and Transavia.
Two companies, one card and worldwide benefits
The best bonuses
Before Covid-19, the company transalpine had the Airbus A380s, KLM the 747s and together they could boast a fleet of nearly 550 aircraft. A network capable of reaching 318 destinations in 118 different nations.
Now both companies have been "bailed out" by their respective governments, as has happened to virtually all carriers. They have retired their "jumbo" and are preparing to defend their title as Europe's leading carrier.
Together with Alitalia, they are the three pillars of the SkyTeam alliance in Europe, along with Delta in the United States and with Korean for Southeast Asia.
Here's how Flying Blue works
All members gain blue status by right. There are 3 elite statuses:Â 100 XP is needed for the Silver level, 180 XP is needed to go from Silver to Gold, and 300 XP is needed to go from Gold to Platinum.
Unlike BA which determines the reporting period with the date of enrollment or Alitalia which resets everything on January 1 of each year, for Flying Blue members the important date is the date on which they will collect their first experience point or precisely XP.
A second difference is that once you have accumulated enough XP to move to the next level, the upgrade will take place immediately and your membership period to the new level will be 15 months.
Crown Lounge Amsterdam
If you do not earn enough XP to level up, but you keep the XP required for your status, your level will not change. For example, if you are a Silver member and during the qualifying period you did not earn 180 XP to move up to Gold level, but you still have the 100 XP required for Silver level, you will keep your level.
If at the end of the qualification period you have not reached the number of XP that brought you to your current level, you will move to the lower level. Your membership at this new level lasts for 12 months. This in fact is a kind of parachute that allows you not to start from scratch if you have not flown as much in a year.
If you are an elite member, you will begin the new qualifying period with any XP already earned above the required threshold.
The privileges of elite statuses
The fact that the two companies share the same program does not detract from the fact that there are small differences in the benefits passengers get when they fly with either carrier.
Unfortunately, it does not exist in Italy no "branded" credit cards that allow you to earn miles or have facilitated routes to obtain a particular status. The program does, however, partner with American Express and then you can convert membership rewards points in FB miles.
The way XP points are accumulated is very similar to the philosophy of the British Airways level points.
The number of XP you guada depends on the type of flight and class of travel.
For example, flying from Frankfurt to New York via Amsterdam or Paris in Economy Class, you will earn 15 XP (Frankfurt to Amsterdam/Paris in Economy Class = 5 XP + Amsterdam/Paris to New York in Economy Class = 10 XP).
In contrast with the same route but in business class, it is possible to earn 45 XP. This mode is very clear and also allows you to be able to build ad hoc itineraries that can collect a lot of XP points with the right stopovers.
Silver level, 100 XP points needed
- 1 additional checked baggage on flights operated by Air France, KLM, Aircalin, Air Corsica, China Southern Airlines and SkyTeam partners
- Priority check-in and boarding
- The 25% price discount for seat selection on board
- Accumulate 6 Miles with each euro spent
- Earn 50% bonus miles when you fly SkyTeam and other partner airlines
- Miles do not expire if you maintain the status
- SkyTeam elite level and related privileges.
Gold level, 180 XP needed
- 1 additional checked baggage on flights operated by Air France, KLM, Aircalin, Air Corsica, China Southern Airlines and SkyTeam partners
- Free access + 1 guest when, on the same day as the lounge visit, you depart together on an international flight operated by Air France, KLM, China Southern Airways or a SkyTeam partner
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Guaranteed seat in economy class
- Option to request upgrade to first class
- The 50% of price discount for seat selection on board.
- Accumulate 7 Miles with each euro spent
- Accumulate 75% of bonus miles when you fly SkyTeam and other partner airlines
- Miles do not expire if you maintain the status
- SkyTeam elite plus level and related SkyPriority privileges.
Crowne Lounge Amsterdam
Platinum level, 300 XP required
- 1 additional checked baggage on flights operated by Air France, KLM, Aircalin, Air Corsica, China Southern Airlines and SkyTeam partners
- Free access + 1 guest when, on the same day as the lounge visit, you depart together on an international flight operated by Air France, KLM, China Southern Airways or a SkyTeam partner
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Option to request upgrade to first class
- Guaranteed seat in economy class
- Free seat selection on board
- Accumulate 8 Miles with each euro spent
- Earn 100% of bonus miles when you fly SkyTeam and other partner airlines
- Miles do not expire if you maintain the status
- SkyTeam elite plus level and related SkyPriority privileges.
The gem of Air France KLM
Due to the colonial past of both nations and the presence of numerous territories outside the European continent, the airlines offer the possibility of flying with just an ID card to the Caribbean or the Indian Ocean. These are thus direct connections from their respective hubs in Paris and Amsterdam, at very competitive prices and with a fair amount of award seats available.